Despite adding three proven starters last off-season, the rotation remains the club’s biggest — but hardly only — weakness.

R.A. Dickey arrives in Toronto for an introductory press conference with Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos in January. The promise of last off-season quickly turned to disappointment on the field for the ballclub and its fans.

The great irony is that heading into the season, the Jays’ revamped starting staff was considered among the best in the majors, while the bullpen was thought to be its biggest weakness. The opposite proved to be true as Toronto finished second-worst in the majors with a 4.77 starters’ ERA, while the bullpen was among the AL’s best.

Injuries to Johnson, Brandon Morrow and J.A. Happ exposed the Jays’ dire lack of starting depth as they spun through 13 different starters, with Buehrle and Dickey as the only constants.

“I would have never expected the rotation to be the weak link on this team coming into the year,” Anthopoulos said, adding that he believes the Jays have the makings of a contender in terms of the bullpen and offence.

“It came down to the rotation,” he said.

Though he’s not likely to be as busy as he was last off-season, Anthopoulos will still have his hands full trying to improve the club. Here’s a breakdown of his off-season plans.

1. Rotation

Heading into next season, the Jays have just two true locks for the starting staff: Buehrle and Dickey.

Morrow is under contract, but after spending most of the last two seasons on the disabled list, who knows what he’ll be next year? The same goes for free agent Johnson, who may or may not be brought back on a qualifying offer. After that it’s wide open, but there is no shortage of bodies who will compete for one of the final spots: Happ, Esmil Rogers, Todd Redmond, Kyle Drabek, Drew Hutchison, and even prospects Sean Nolin and Marcus Stroman could all be fighting for a starting job out of spring training. So the Jays should at least have more starting depth than they had a year ago.

“We now have volume, we now have bodies,” Anthopoulos said. “But that’s only part of the equation. Now we need to have quality to win in the AL East and get to the playoffs.”

How he goes about acquiring that quality remains to be seen, but Anthopoulos said a trade is likelier than free agency. Despite plundering the farm system last off-season, Anthopoulos said he still has pieces with which to deal, adding that no player on the big-league roster is untouchable. Anthopoulos could also pursue highly touted Japanese starter Masahiro Tanaka, though the international posting fee could be dissuasive.

2. Catcher

J.P. Arencibia posted career-worst offensive marks while also playing subpar defence this year, and while Anthopoulos wouldn’t single out his catcher, he will surely be looking for ways to improve behind the plate.

“If we can improve in any area, we’ll look to do that,” he said. “But it’s about alternatives and if there’s no better alternatives, then we’ll do what we can to make our players better.”

What Anthopoulos decides with regards to Johnson will be one of the biggest decisions of the off-season. The free agent is coming off his worst season in the big leagues, but the Jays may still offer him a one-year qualifying offer of roughly $14 million in order to secure draft-pick compensation if he signs with another team.

Then again, how many offers will Johnson receive after his dreadful year? Perhaps they could convince him to sign a discounted one-year deal in an attempt to take another run at free agency in 2014, or Anthopoulos could simply wash his hands of the once-heralded pitcher and let him walk.

The club’s other free agent, Rajai Davis, has likely played his last game as a Blue Jay. Anthopoulos would like to have him back to continue to serve as the fourth outfielder, but chances are another team will give him a starting job.

Four players have club options, all of which Anthopoulos is likely to exercise: Casey Janssen, Adam Lind, Mark DeRosa and Munenori Kawasaki. Janssen is the safest bet to return, while Anthopoulos said there’s a “good chance” the club will exercise the options for both Lind and DeRosa.

As for fan favourite Kawasaki, who has a $1 million club option, Anthopoulos outlined multiple scenarios, including declining the option but signing Kawasaki to a minor-league deal.

“One way or the other, we’d like to probably have him back in the organization,” the GM said.

4. Second base

A persistent weakness for the club all season, Anthopoulos overestimated the abilities of both Emilio Bonifacio and Maicer Izturis to play the position on an everyday basis. As it stands, Anthopoulos said rookie Ryan Goins would be the frontrunner to compete for the job in spring training. “(But) if we could find an established player there we would look at it, or get some competition for Goins.”

5. Coaching staff

Anthopoulos has already said that John Gibbons will return as manager next season, but at least some changes are expected for the coaching staff. Pitching coach Pete Walker and third-base/infield coach Luis Rivera are on the hottest seats.

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